If you are someone that bakes your own homemade bread or buys in bulk, you may not have to find ways to reuse a bread bag.
However, most buy their bread from the store and don’t think twice before tossing the bread bag in the trash when they are done. It is such a waste to do that.
Not only does it take plastic bags a really long time before they will break down, but they can also be such money-savers too when you reuse them.
So finding another way to at least reuse them one more time is always a good idea and it helps to cut down on plastic waste.
Best Ways To Reuse A Bread Bag:
I am going to share with you the best ways we have found that are great ways to reuse a bread bag.
Animal Waste Bags:
If you have pets I am sure you are no stranger to cleaning up after them. You can use bread bags to pick up dog waste when you are walking them.
That way you do not have to buy poo bags that is unless you want to get the biodegradable ones. It is also great when you are scooping the cat litter. Simply scoop the waste into the bag, tie it up and then throw it away.
Keep Feet Dry:
They work great as a temporary way to keep your feet dry. If you are in an area that does not normally get snow and then suddenly get a few inches but don’t have snow boots, no worries.
Simply slide a clean empty bag over your socks and then slip your feet into your shoes.
Pack Sandwiches:
Going on a picnic or any road trips? Don’t put each sandwich you pack into its own plastic bag, pack them all together back into the bread bag!
Crochet With Them:
Using plastic bags and bread bags for crafts is always a great idea. You can cut it into strips and make plarn with it.
Then use it to crochet with. I used it for the top trim on the crochet bag you see above in the picture. The rest of the bag was made with plastic shopping bags.
Gifting Homemade Baked Goods:
If you like to make baked goods, you can reuse these bags to store it. It also makes a great way to seel it up and give it as a gift.
Motion Sickness Bags:
Have someone that gets motion sickness? Keep some empty bread bags in the car. They work really well as barf bags when motion sickness hits.
Soiled Diaper Bags:
If you have a little one in diapers, there is no need to buy special diaper pal bags (unless you want the biodegradable bags) to keep in the diaper bag.
Simply store empty bread bags in the diaper bag. That way when you are out and have a dirty diaper, you have a way to throw it out without everyone else having to smell it.
Icing Piping Bags:
Do you ever buy pastry piping bags? Save your money! You can reuse clean bread bags for piping! Cut a small spot at the end of the bag and screw your tip in place just like you would with any other bag.
Temporary Pots:
Need to pot up some plants? You can roll a bread bag down to sturdy it up. Then put some dirt in it and pot your plant. This comes in handy when you have a bunch of potted plants that need to be split up.
Store Paint Brush or Rollers:
If you are working on a paint project such as maybe repainting your walls, there is no need to get a new roller cover when you need to take a break or stop for a while.
Simply slide a bread bag over the roller or paintbrush and tie/tuck the end so that air can not get to it. This will keep the paint from drying out and hardening the roller or brush.
Trash Bags:
You can use an empty plastic bread bag as a small trash bag. These work really well in a car or RV too. That way all the trash from the car is in one place and you can easily dump it instead of having to hunt all over the car to find the trash.
Produce Bags:
Instead of using those plastic bags they provide at local grocery stores, bring your own. Washed-out empty bread bags make great produce bags.
Store Fresh Bread:
This use is such an obvious one and one of the easy ways to reuse the bags! You can reuse those bags to store your own homemade fresh bread in! Just make sure you clean it well from any previous food residue.
Then place your cooled loaves of bread in the bag and keep it closed with bread clips or a twist tie.
You can also bring your own bread bags to the store where you buy fresh bread. That way you will not have to use a paper bag from the store.
Do you have some creative ways you have found for reusing a bread bag? I would love to hear them in the comments below!
If you liked this post, here are some others to check out on ways to reuse items.
- 11 Ways To Reuse A Tin Can
- Great Ways To Reuse Corks
- Ways To Reuse Baby Wipe Containers
- Ways To Reuse A Coffee Creamer Container
- Shopping Bags – 14 Ways To Reuse Plastic Bags
- Ways to Recycle Boxes
Kareing4 says
My hubby uses them to catch all the bones and skin of the fresh fish he filletts, ties it up and put it in the garbage. If it is in between garbage pick up days, we store these otherwise smelly items into another bag in freezer,with other fishy bags.
Reuse Grow Enjoy says
That is such a good idea!
Anonymous says
I use bread bags to flour any meat to fry, just add any seasoning and then toss. No bowls to wash
Reuse Grow Enjoy says
That is a smart way to reuse a bread bag! Thanks for sharing.
Anonymous says
I love this idea and will start using it thanks so much
David T. says
Hi
We don’t buy bread in plastic. The bread we occasionally buy is fresh, it goes straight in a saved plastic bag to take home.
Every plastic bag is prepared for re-use: washed or rinsed (but only if necessary). They’re used and used and sometimes patched until they’re unusable.
We always shop at a zero-waste place, where we can bring all our own (re-usable) containers and bags. For instance, I’ve been using the same plastic dishwashing liquid container since the mid-‘90s.
And yet for all our efforts, our biggest household (by bulk) ‘waste’ item is plastic, so I shudder to imagine what unthinking people are responsible for. It breaks my heart.
Reuse Grow Enjoy says
That is really great David that you shop like that! Such a great way to cut down on plastic and trash.
Pmeltzers says
What are you using for dish detergent? Just curious!!
Pauline says
What do you do if you don’t live in a place where they have a “no waste store ?”
Kathy says
We use them in several ways, if you buy extra loaves of bread to freeze, double bag them with an extra bread bag and eliminate freezer burn! We have chickens and I wear bread bags like long gloves for cleaning off their sleeping area, we also open feed bags and let them under their leeching areas to catch poop and then just fold them up and put them all into a feed bag to throw it all out. Lastly, we put food bones in them and in the freezer so nothing stinks until we are ready to take ttash.
Reuse Grow Enjoy says
Those are some great ideas Kathy! Thanks so much for sharing.
Marge says
Bags made of plastic or paper with one end sealed (bread or roll bags, cookie bags, bags inside cereal boxes, cracker boxes, etc.) can be used as is or cut down a bit to hold wet garbage (egg shells, meat scraps, vegetable or fruit peels and scraps, etc.) before tossing in the kitchen trash container, which prevents leaks if trash bag get broken or torn open. It also keeps odor down. And I, too, freeze in the smallest of bags meat scraps (raw or cooked) until it’s time to take trash to the dumpster in order to keep odor down. Another hint: Use cheap paper plates as disposable cutting boards. Yes, they’ll wind up in a landfill somewhere, but it doesn’t take paper too long to breakdown.
Lin says
Growing up, I saw my mom pack sandwiches for my dad’s lunches (he was in construction) in reused bread bags. It’s one of those nostalgic memories.
Now, I save them to put my own baked bread in, or freeze bagels from the bagel shop, or keep/freeze old bread for making Thanksgiving stuffing.
They are a really handy shape and size.
Anonymous says
When splitting meat up for the freezer, I place inside a bread bag before placing in a freezer bag for a little added protection.
Reuse Grow Enjoy says
That is a great idea! Thanks for sharing.
Betty says
Hi. I use them to store shoes and for travelling. Use 1 bag fir kuds shoes and 2 for bigger adult size trainers.
Reuse Grow Enjoy says
Those are great ideas, Betty! Thank you for sharing.